I agree with Elle, some adults are more noisy and disruptive than babies. I wouldn't want to bring baby into first class just in case, but I don't see any reason in business as like the above have said, you pay premium for those seats for you and baby...not that we have even gone business with baby. Besides, they're a business, they can do whatever they want.
Malaysia Airlines Bans Babies in First Class
- Thread starter rani
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howardcoombs, i must admit I"m a bit surprised with your statements being a parent of 3 children. Havent you had moments where your child just would not stop crying in public?
i just did a 3.5hr flight to Sg and I did fly business with baby and yes for 1 full excruciating hour, my son just would not stop screaming, every one in business gave us dirty looks and to be fair, I have done the exact same thing when I didnt have children. But now, when I fly and some other kid is screaming, I am much more tolerant and have empathy. We have all been there as parents. Besides as another poster mentioned, I paid that premium for that bassinet and the little one doesnt drink a drop of alchohol, watch any movies or eat any of airplane food, I would say their profit margin on my baby is very good!
Surely there must be parents who fly first class ( not me, never seen that cabin before) who happen to have children? Or do they just put their children in business class whilst they sit in 1st?
i just did a 3.5hr flight to Sg and I did fly business with baby and yes for 1 full excruciating hour, my son just would not stop screaming, every one in business gave us dirty looks and to be fair, I have done the exact same thing when I didnt have children. But now, when I fly and some other kid is screaming, I am much more tolerant and have empathy. We have all been there as parents. Besides as another poster mentioned, I paid that premium for that bassinet and the little one doesnt drink a drop of alchohol, watch any movies or eat any of airplane food, I would say their profit margin on my baby is very good!
Surely there must be parents who fly first class ( not me, never seen that cabin before) who happen to have children? Or do they just put their children in business class whilst they sit in 1st?
I have a friend who travels business and puts her child with the helper in economy.
howardcoombs
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howardcoombs
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An update to this old story : Now for some kid free zones in Economy:
http://www.businessinsider.com/mala...ing-child-free-zones-on-its-new-planes-2012-4
http://www.businessinsider.com/mala...ing-child-free-zones-on-its-new-planes-2012-4
Malaysia Airlines is just another company in an increasing number of companies who are going the "Child Free" route--including cinemas, grocery stores, restaurants and hotels.
The no-kids-allowed movement is spreading
I think it reflects the overall selfishness of our culture--no one can be inconvenienced for anyone else and $$ talks and means more. I think this is combined with some very poor parenting skills that have become common as well.
I remember going to restaurants as a child and there was a certain standard of behavior that was expected and enforced by my parents and if we didn't meet it, you can be sure my mother would haul us right out of there--either to sit in the car or there were times when we simply just left the restaurant altogether because we (the children) weren't complying. I also remember my baby sister making a huge mess at the table and my mother requesting a broom and cleaning up the mess HERSELF after the meal--this was standard--she didn't leave the work to the staff. There are parents who really do not know how to (or are unwilling to) reign in their unruly children. And the sad part is that all parents get lumped into that category.
But, when it comes to babies--especially young babies--there really isn't much that can be done sometimes. I think in general people have become so self-focused that they can't give a little bit (or a lot of) tolerance in these cases. But it's an "i generation." Have everything "your way."
I think it would benefit society more if people could make a little sacrifice for the good of the community because if you have children you tend to have more compassion and if you don't, know that that parent sitting next to you who is doing their best to parent is actually doing our world a favor as they're bringing up the next generation.
Hong Kong is one of the most child and family-unfriendly places, I think in this regard. Children are not catered for here at all. A quick look at the parks and recreational facilities or restaurants or public bathrooms definitely gives that impression. But, then again, the child birth-rate is so low here that children are pretty much a negligible consideration for most of the public.
So, Malaysia Airlines is only responding to a customer desire and that reflects more about the customers than about Malaysia Airlines.
The no-kids-allowed movement is spreading
I think it reflects the overall selfishness of our culture--no one can be inconvenienced for anyone else and $$ talks and means more. I think this is combined with some very poor parenting skills that have become common as well.
I remember going to restaurants as a child and there was a certain standard of behavior that was expected and enforced by my parents and if we didn't meet it, you can be sure my mother would haul us right out of there--either to sit in the car or there were times when we simply just left the restaurant altogether because we (the children) weren't complying. I also remember my baby sister making a huge mess at the table and my mother requesting a broom and cleaning up the mess HERSELF after the meal--this was standard--she didn't leave the work to the staff. There are parents who really do not know how to (or are unwilling to) reign in their unruly children. And the sad part is that all parents get lumped into that category.
But, when it comes to babies--especially young babies--there really isn't much that can be done sometimes. I think in general people have become so self-focused that they can't give a little bit (or a lot of) tolerance in these cases. But it's an "i generation." Have everything "your way."
I think it would benefit society more if people could make a little sacrifice for the good of the community because if you have children you tend to have more compassion and if you don't, know that that parent sitting next to you who is doing their best to parent is actually doing our world a favor as they're bringing up the next generation.
Hong Kong is one of the most child and family-unfriendly places, I think in this regard. Children are not catered for here at all. A quick look at the parks and recreational facilities or restaurants or public bathrooms definitely gives that impression. But, then again, the child birth-rate is so low here that children are pretty much a negligible consideration for most of the public.
So, Malaysia Airlines is only responding to a customer desire and that reflects more about the customers than about Malaysia Airlines.
thanka2, I agree with you completely. I was in the baby changing room in Alexandra House (near Starbucks) the other day and the changing table was affixed to the wall at such a ridiculously low level that the average person would have to kneel on the floor to change the baby's diaper!?
That's funny but sad.
Where we live there simply aren't changing tables--anywhere. So, we're experts at changing baby in lots of interesting positions including balanced on our own lap! I'm so used to it that when we go back to the States this summer I might die of shock when I see changing tables in every restaurants, accessibility ramps on every public building (required BY LAW) and baby high chairs at every restaurant.
That works when there is actually a choice to be made but it can cross over into a type of discrimination (such as businesses positioning themselves as "Chinese-only" or "female-only" etc.). When it comes to airlines sometimes there is a choice and at other times there is not. Same thing with restaurants. Yes, it is the choice of the business at this point but where is the line on rights of consumers as well? Is it the right of others to discriminate against me because I have children or others because they do not have children? It's really entering a grey area and I think eventually it will be legislated.